Concerns About "At the Mountains of Madness" Movie
The Facts
As of right now, we know for sure that Disney is the studio that in financing and putting out the "At the Mountains of Madness" movie. We know that it is being directed by Guillermo del Toro, and that it is being produced in 3-D by James Cameron and Susan Montford. Ron Perlman has been slated to play the role of Larson. The slated date for the movie is 2013.
The Main Roles
It has been stated that Guillermo del Toro is interested in getting at least one big name for "At the Mountains of Madness." As a fan of the work of H.P. Lovecraft and the Cthulhu Mythos, this concerns me. I am worried that there will become more of a focus on the stars than on the movie itself. Remember, Cthulhu Mythos stories, and the stories of Lovecraft focus more on the plot and the outcome than the characters.
Super Budget
The fact that Disney, Cameron, and del Toro want to make "At the Mountains of Madness" into a huge movie event worries me. A king-sized budget could hurt the movie in the long run as a focus is put more on the graphics, and less on the flow of the story.
Written for the Fans?
If "At the Mountains of Madness" is written for the die-hard fans of H.P. Lovecraft and the Cthulhu Mythos, chances are good that the average viewer might become alienated. There are many intricacies of the Cthulhu Mythos that are wound into "At the Mountains of Madness" that someone that is unfamiliar with the Mythos might get confused and turned off.
Written for the Public?
If the "At the Mountains of Madness" movie is written more for the general public, the fans might feel alienated. The fans will sit their and wait for the references to the Cthulhu Mythos, and will become disappointed if they either lose out, or have to sit through explanations of topics that they have read about for years.
Bridge to Nowhere
A major hope of many H.P. Lovecraft fans, and fans of the Cthulhu Mythos, is that if the "At the Mountains of Madness" movie is not done right, it might be years before a story by H.P. Lovecraft gets big screen treatment again. Fans have dreamed for the day of seeing one of the major creations of Lovecraft and the Cthulhu Mythos on the big screen. Now, they fear that their dream might become a nightmare.
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4 Comments
Post a CommentI agree with your concerns.
Interesting. I haven't heard of this movie yet. good info!
First off, if I know other people that are interested in the movie, it would make sense to discuss the movie with them and get their concerns out. Secondly, all of Lovecraft's character ultimately dealt with the evils in the same way...they went insane or died. Lovecraft admitted himself in his letters that he did not have an attachment to the characters, only to the evils that they faced. Next, if you have read that interviews with del Toro, he has stated that he wants to get big names for the roles. Finally, Disney is the studio that is paying for the movie. Take a look on HSX, or on Disney's investor relations page for upcoming film projects.
HPL stories are ALL about the characters. You'll notice that his tales are often told in the first-person, narrated by a singular survivor of some horrific experience. I would argue that the actor you cast in that role becomes all important to better translating the story.
Along those lines I take issue with your insinuation that Del Toro is looking to cast a huge star in his film. He never casts in those terms, he looks for the best actor he can for the role. The studio may want certain big names (they always do), but that's an economics driven stance. Del Toro is probably trying to work within those constraints to (as I said) cast the best possible actor. When you're dealing with a large budgeted film such as is being attempted here, sometimes you have to make concessions with the studio.
Speaking of the studio, where are you getting that Disney is suddenly the studio behind this project? Talking to buddies doesn't count as research.